The goal of this assignment is for you to analyze a brief passage from the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Choose one or two paragraphs from the Narrative and copy and paste your choice at the very beginning of your paper. You can find the whole Narrative online here: http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/douglass/douglass.html.
You should choose a passage that you believe is very important to Douglass's story as a whole, or choose one that is particularly meaningful, moving, or intriguing to you. After you have chosen your passage, compose an essay in clear, concise language that follows the guidelines below. Remember: simple sentences with clear and strong language are preferable to long and convoluted ones in which the meaning gets lost. Keep it simple! .
1. BRIEF SUMMARY.
Explain where this piece fits into the overall narrative. What happened before this passage? What events or decisions led up to this moment? What actually happens in the passage itself?.
2. JUSTIFY YOUR CHOICE.
Why did you choose this passage? What did you find so significant about it? Why is it so important in the context of the whole narrative? .
3. ANALYSIS.
Why do you think Douglass wrote this passage? How would you describe the type of language that he used in this passage? What effect do you think he intended it to have on his audience? Do you think that Douglass succeeds in getting his message across? Are there any ways the audience might misinterpret his meaning?.
4. CONNECTING TO A BROADER HISTORICAL THEME.
In the concluding section, connect this passage to one of the broader historical themes that we have learned about in the course. Does this passage challenge or support some of the ideas about slavery or antebellum American society that we have discussed in class? For example, what does the passage tell us about antebellum ideas about life as a slave, citizenship, literacy, religious practice, etc.? Focus on one theme (two at most) as this is a short essay.
